Without Ray of Hope

With most forms of artistic expression, the viewer or listener needs to go back to the source several times before they can give an honest opinion. For this debut album, I have done this task and wanted to express it in this review. Without Ray of Hope is a true masterpiece!

The first track, Without Hope, has an infectious lead guitar riff similar to something off of Dark Tranquility’s Projector album. Phil’s guttural vocal approach reminds me of Alexander Van Leeuwen from the Dutch doom/death metal band Sad Whisperings. Tears of Mankind takes the listener into a realm where sadness, isolation, and, on occasion, brutality come together. Phil has an excellent clean vocal approach on the album. Similarities to Katatonia and the British band Eterne come to mind. Track 8, Never, is a depressive melody that hooks you from the start, having very somber, dreamlike vocals mixed with some acoustic guitars and keyboards. At the end of the song the melody goes for a louder and broader sound, creating a monstrous effect on the listener. Track 9, Through the Flesh, has a different approach than the other songs. You can clearly hear the Septic Flesh influence circa 1995 with guttural death metal vocals, mesmerizing guitar melodies, and some spooky keyboards. The final track on the album is called Sweet Harmony and that’s exactly what this song reminds me of. There are no vocals, just this awesome melody. Phil layers the song with keyboards and heavy guitar riffs. At times the song has a new age vibe. The production on the album is acceptable. There isn’t a heavy bottom to the recording. The bass and drum work is forgettable.

Overall, I think this album creates a magnificent atmosphere. A great listen with diverse material not steering to far away from the doom/death genre. Recommended!

I felt the name Tears of Mankind was familiar in some way, I just couldn’t put my finger on why. After doing some research on the band I realize it’s probably ‘cause they’re now signed to Solitude Productions; Russia’s premiere doom metal label. But what I also discovered was something extraordinaire in the act’s history. First off, it’s a one-man project, and previous to this debut (released back in 2006) he released nine demos between 03 and 05. That’s a buttload of demos, meaning either he’s a prodigy who can’t stop writing music, or he keeps peddling crap in an endless stream. Without ray of hope is over 70 minutes long, so I certainly hoped for the latter…

As Without hope commenced the album I was happily surprised by the quality of riffing. It was mere seconds into the song that the warm melody of the lead guitar gave birth to a wonderful atmosphere. But as soon as the vocals entered it all fell to pieces, as that’s one bad clean voice, really bad. Luckily he continues through most of the album with either screams or growls, both of which are way better than his clean voice, and of which the growl definitely dominates in power. The following track, Eternal sadness, has a certain Black Sabbath familiarity in the earliest of the riffs, and the song moves on to another brilliant melodic lead. While I’d say most of the material feels heavily inspired by My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost there are a few tracks that really breaks out of the gothic doom/death mold.

Take for instance From dark to light, which has a classic heavy metal approach with a sort of viking/pagan feel to it. It blends well with the doom agenda, and I dare say I’d otherwise shun such riffing, but he certainly makes it work. The river moves even deeper into the pagan landscapes, but this time with a prominent folkish flair. The winter dance feels more funeral doom in atmosphere, and clearly in the overwhelmingly saddened riffing. No matter what style tried or adapted the album flows quite naturally and without hiccups.

What does bug the hell out of me is the horrible production. The drums are definitely programmed (either that or he’s the most rigid drummer I’ve heard), and with terrible sounding cymbals and snare. The guitar could be considered as ok, but with the remaining productions being so thin and screechy it loses all prowess. The vocals are not flawless in performance, neither of styles, and certainly not the clean ones. And it occasionally sounds as he’s breathing directly into the mic during the growls. The sound issues really take away from the power of the material, which in most cases are pretty damn good. But as it is presented here I can’t listen to it in a relaxed state of mind as I’m constantly noticing its flaws.

Originally written for http://www.mylastchapter.net